The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-01-27

sions then consisted of bundle Of clothes and ten
dollars In money, This vast state, throughout lite
length and breadth, did not contain either ria.
tive or friend, But still he the possessor of
that which is of more value than either money or
| friends. Money may be lost, friends may become
enemies, but he possessed mind, energy, courage,
honor, and last, but by no means least, gos
and pure heart that caused him then and causes
PIN now, to love the people as a pure statesman
Texas, where he still lives. an honored and be-
loved man. In Si7 the people who
knew him, recognized in him an
honest man, a born leader. and therefore
elected him to represent them in the Second legs
| latnre of Texas In that position he proved him
self to be man eminently suited for public trust
! and confidence, and In 1879 he was elected to the
high aud honorable position of district judge of
the old Ninth district of Texas. The salary OF
district judge at that time was $3.50 per annum.
During his term of office the salary was raised TO
| So 90. The legislature gave as reason for doing
So that the state could not secure the services of
such 4 man as ought to occupy the bench FOR so
small salary. In 1856 this man resigned his
| office, which was soon after the salary had been
!, increased His reason for doing so was, as he
then stated because II the people could get better
man for the position for $3.50, they ought to have
| him
| lie Immediately became a candidate for the
| position and reelected. In 1857 he was
| elected as democratic member of the Thirty
| fifth national congress over l.. D. Evin5, know
nothing, and again elected to the Thirty sixth
conpress in 1857 over Judge Ochitree, by major
ity of over II 900 votes Notwithstanding the fact
|
all prominent politicians we're fighting and bitter
| ly depouncing him, thus showing how highly he
was esteemed by the people.
In 1861 the civil war between the states began,
and he, like the true that he is took sides and
cast his lot with his neighbors and friends, and by
his action said if they die shall die with them. If
they live, shall live.
Ills honesty and ability were then known and APP
preciated and in 1851 aud 1Si2ghe was appointed
postmaster general of the Confederate states, and
In 1865 was also made treasurer under the follow
| i'm Dirc cabinet
been in session for some time during his absence
| When he came in that noble and llustrious states,
man, jefferson Davis, God bless his name,) said
| we have determined to make you treasurer. He
objectet saying that the position he had occupied
all of his timel But President Davis Insisted say
ing, we have not much money only about S3N, O
in paper, and about 100, 90 in coin, and we know
that you will neither steal 1t yourself nor permit
any one else to do so, thus, showing the perfect
confidence which the president had in him.
| When the Confederate government was
discovered and President Davis was
taken prisoner he was taken with him Thus you
see he chung to the which he had voluntarily
eepoused to the last,
in the latter part of December, 1865, he was re.
leased from prison. and reached his home on the
tn day of said month, and found his home and
country in such state of destruction ana ruin that
he could do nothing at the practice OF his proles-
sion as lawyer and hence during 1866 and 1867 he
devoted himself to farming and made regular
field hand. lie followed the pillow and handled the
hoe and thus sustained himself and family, ana
WIS
not too proud to work To earn an honest living,
thereby setting an example that IL would be well
for all to and profit by who feel that labor is
not honorable. This he did with cheerful heart,
| without murmur of discomfort, thus showing the
true elements of noble manhood In 1868 he again
b. gan the practice Of law, and continued until 1871,
when he was elected member of the orty-foufth
congress as the democratic nominee and has been
80 elected to every congress eince
that time to the present. He
has been nine times nominated nine times
lola
and six times In succession. Ia such record pre-
sented by any otherf Thus showing the perfect
confidence and high esteem In which he is held by
the people who know him best
He was member of the first democratic state
convention ever held in Texas, which was in this
city IN 1877, and was a member OF the onstitu-
| tional convention of Texas IN 1870. This man,
fellow senators and representatives, Is none . her
; than the noble and gifted John II, Reagan. He i
was who, in the constitutional convention OF lo7b
secured the passage Of the thirteenth article OF
4 the constitution which saved the state of Texas
and her people millions of acres of the best lands
| in the state He II was who, Ia the Foriy-hfth
congress, introduced what Ia known as the "Rea
gan Interstate commerce bill, and continued with
unHinching courage, untiring energy and an un
equaled ability, TO urge It's passage In the Forty
sixth, Forty-seyenth and forty,eighth congress-
; by a majority of seventy-elght votes, but was
, defeated in the senate. In the Forty ninth
; congress, which snow in session, he etiil per
sisted, and IL passed the senate by vote OF 4S to
} Is, and the house by vote of 2l9 TO al, all OF
which is due to the ability of this noble and able
man.
Let me say to you gentlemen that for these two
acts the two crowning acts ot his life, the people
| of Texas and of the entire United States owe him
a debt of gratitude which they can never repay
during the short time which Is left for him on THE
earth. lie is now growing old, and we must soon
lose his valuable services One term In the senate
I is about all we ever ask of him Can you
doubt his ability after 30 much labor attended with
such happy and successful results opposed TO by
lall of raj
! great power and stupendous mOneyed influence
assisted by the combined power OF the whole re
publican pary' If then he possesses such powe
and efectia Influence as member OF the house
I what more may we expect of him In the smalle
a body composing the senate?
q concede and believe that 1t is not always powe
a we need for ability Without sincerity and honest.
4 of purpose, and without the interest OF the peop
at heart, 1t s more dangerous and ruinous than g
a nOrance and ineficlency.
: But stop and think and let us see II we do no
possess undoubted proof Of bis honesty and love
# the people lie began his Dublic life in lSi7 as
), member of the Texas legislature and has beei
Ii almost continually In public life since, and durin
It all this time he has never asked the people to Ger
i. tify to his honesty except he met with generou
response from them by their expressions at tn
8 ballot box.
! Few men have ever had the courage to oppos
|, him. and when they did the people have spoke
and said, by their ballots, we prefer the man WHOM
J. we have often tried and never found wanting ii
( has always proven himself true to the trusts i'm
y
d ful to the people he has always proven his abit
Il to perform the duties ct any Office he has aske
4 Of us, and hence. we trust him II th
d people have such trust and conidenc
q why should not we, th:ir representatives, kno'
that it s said by that the Reagan bill Will
injurious TO Texas and to the south and west gen
eruy, but this be truei Is possible gentle
9 men, that ALL or nearly all, of the democratic mem
bers of both branches OF congress are men withou
If sense is It true that they all corrupt, an
desire to aiiiict their oAn people? If not, the
Inv fha dam RAT tic m M
d and the west, and from Texas especially, supper
10 the bill?
10 II the bill is injurious to the south and west
n must be beneficial to the railroads. and to the mort
IN and east. Yet we find that the railroads and tn
protected kings of the north and east are all vic
% lenty opposed to 1t.
d Do such men fight their OwR inferestsY
d John II Reagan, through nearly forty year
G. of public life, has always been faithful
4, bold and open position on every question of gre
II public interest.
IN He is right the silver coinage bill. He is rgl
n on the tariff reform question. He is right on II
railroad question. He is right on all sound dem
l. cratic measures, and he possesses the power an
l. disposition TO enforce his views.
1t He is a noble and honest man. II 4 long ter
D, Of useful public service, conducted with homes
Of heart and greatmenta ability, with courage an
# determination, coupled with perfect fidelity 10 Il
people, 10 worth anything, John II Reagan hi
rs the title TO the United states senatorship, an
~ we should honor him and the state by electif
is him, and that we may do 80 ls my humble praye
n Senator Bell then took the floor, an
. eloquently put in nomination Judge Tel